Users of this web resource are warned that it may contain images and/or references to deceased people, which could cause distress or sadness particularly for some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The resource may also contain words and descriptions that could be culturally sensitive and which might not normally be used in public or community contexts. For example, some information may be considered appropriate for viewing only by men or only by women. The HealthInfoNet respects such culturally sensitive issues, but, for technical reasons, it has not been possible to provide materials in a way that prevents access by a person of the other gender. Users are asked to respect this cultural protocol.

Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (2012)

This is the fourth report under the auspice of the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council to measure progress against the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health performance framework (HPF). The framework has become one of the key means of monitoring progress in Closing the gap between Indigenous and other Australians. It was reviewed and revised in 2011 and now includes 68 key measures (previously 71 measures) under the following tiers:

Tier 1-Health status and outcomes: measures the prevalence of health conditions including disease or injury, human function, life expectancy, wellbeing and deaths.

Tier 2-Determinants of health: measures of the determinants of health, including socioeconomic status, environmental factors and health behaviours.

The aim of the report is to promote accountability, inform policy and research, and generate informed debate. The report includes an overview of current national policies and strategies, and data analysis for each of the three tiers.

Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (2011)

This is the third report developed under the auspice of the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council to measure progress against the National strategic framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health as well as the more recent measures introduced under Closing the gap national partnerships.

The performance framework reports on the three tiers of health:

health status and outcomes: this includes measures of prevalence of disease or injury, human function, life expectancy and wellbeing

measures of the health determinants: this includes socioeconomic status, environmental factors and health behaviours

health system performance: this includes effectiveness, responsiveness, accessibility and sustainability.

Major findings of the report include:

a significant decline in Indigenous deaths due to avoidable causes

narrowing of the mortality gap

reduction in infant mortality

chronic diseases are a continuing concern, contributing to two thirds of the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians

there were slight reductions in literacy and numeracy gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students

risky behaviours, such as smoking and lack of physical activity, were continuing concerns among Indigenous people

access to, and utilisation of medical services is less than expected given higher levels of illness

access to medical services is more difficult in remote than non-remote areas.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2011)

Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

This publication reports on indicators relevant to health status and health outcomes, determinants of health and health systems performance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Western Australia. The report is based on the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health performance framework 2010: detailed analyses report. Jurisdiction-specific and national comparisons are both presented.

2010

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2010)

Australia's health 2010: the twelfth biennial report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Australia's health 2010 was released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare as the twelfth edition of its biennial national health report. The report shows that Australia is one of the healthiest nations in the world, with most Australians generally have good health and access to a range of good health care services, but Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to have much poorer health than the general population.

Health information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is included in various sections of the report but particularly in chapter 5.1 which compiles information about demographic profiles, health status, disability rates and service use. The section highlights that Indigenous Australians are continuing to die at much younger ages than non-Indigenous Australians. Indigenous Australians also continue to have a greater disease burden, higher rates of disability and a lower quality of life than other Australians. The section concludes with information on behaviours and health risk factors that shape the health status of Indigenous peoples such as tobacco use, alcohol misuse, illicit drug use, and housing conditions.

Reconciliation action plan 2008-2010: Western Australian Department for Planning and Infrastructure.

Perth, WA: Department for Planning and Infrastructure, Western Australia

2007

Health Reform Implementation Taskforce (2007)

Western Australian Aboriginal primary care resource kit.

Perth: Government of Western Australia, Department of Health

This action plan aims to offer service providers and communities a statewide vision for Aboriginal primary care, evidence-based priorities, an approach to culturally secure models of care, and achievable health outcomes that strongly emphasise a focus on child and maternal health. This plan seeks to build on existing strategies that are working successfully, establish strong links with new initiatives taking place and offers a framework to assist service providers and communities with their local planning. In particular, a lifecourse approach identifying key periods in life impacting on health is promoted for the planning and delivery of primary care services to Aboriginal people in Western Australia.

National summary of the 2003 and 2004 jurisdictional reports against the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health performance indicators.

Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

This report is the second national summary of 56 health performance indicators for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The indicators have been developed to monitor whether the health of Indigenous people is improving, and to highlight problem areas and priorities. Although information is given for separate states and territories, the relatively poor quality of current Indigenous health data makes comprehensive comparisons impossible.

Perth: Western Australian Department of Health

Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program (2005)

Western Australian Aboriginal sexual health strategy 2005-2008.

Perth: WA Department of Health

The Western Australian Aboriginal sexual health strategy provides a framework for engaging communities and service providers to bring about improvements in sexual health. This report outlines how the strategy frames current needs within the context of relevant past policies, programs and strategies. Priority groups are identified, and there is specific reference to the prevalence and risk of STIs and HIV .

The social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people: vol 2.

Perth: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Curtin University of Technology

The intention of the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) was to build knowledge to develop preventative strategies that promote and maintain the healthy development and the social, emotional, academic, and vocational wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This report, the second of five volumes for disseminating the survey results, presents data collected on the social and emotional wellbeing of 3,993 children aged 4-17 years. Factors discussed include: demography; geographic location; social and environmental influences; biological stresses (such as low birth weight, chronic infections and poor nutrition); and health risk factors. The long-term effects on the health and wellbeing of children who have a carer who was forcibly separated from their natural family by a mission, the government or welfare, are also examined.

Compared with the general population, it was found that Aboriginal people experience greater challenges associated with the emotional or behavioural difficulties of their children. The higher proportion of children at high risk of difficulties, and the lower adult-to-child ratio in the Aboriginal population result in proportionally fewer adult carers to assist children who experience difficulties. The findings demonstrate the problems faced by many Aboriginal communities and families but they also include information on children and young people who are doing well and living healthy lives despite past or current adversity.